“Let Her Play”: It’s Her Turn Now

The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) has launched an ambitious four-year strategy to transform women’s football. The “Let Her Play” plan for 2026-2029 sets a clear goal. It wants to make Belize a competitive force and qualify for a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The strategy is built on five “strategic pillars”. These cover everything from getting more girls playing at school to building better facilities. A key target is to improve the senior women’s national team’s FIFA ranking, which currently stands at 171.

“Our ambition aligns with FIFA’s global vision for the growth of the women’s game, ensuring that every girl and woman in Belize has access to safe, structured, and competitive football pathways,” said FFB’s president, Sergio Chuc.

The FFB promises concrete actions. It will create new youth academies, start women’s futsal and beach soccer leagues, and train more female coaches and referees. “Women’s football in Belize is no longer the future: it’s the present,” said Technical Director Philip Marin.

The plan also tackles visibility and funding. It aims to secure TV coverage for women’s matches and attract major sponsors. A dedicated strategic pillar focuses on building the physical and financial foundations of the women’s game. This includes delivering “safe and gender-inclusive facilities, high-performance environments, accessible regional academies, adequate playing fields, and medical support systems” to address current resource limitations for clubs.

Women’s Executive Jacqueline Pelayo stated the plan’s deeper purpose is to look “beyond the policies and pillars.”

“This plan carries a deeper intention: to change the culture around women’s football in Belize. To shift mindsets. To open doors. To make space,” Pelayo added.